Friday, August 26, 2016

Mainely Vapes, next door to the Windham Post Office, is
open for business selling electronic
cigarettes and vaping apparatuses.

“Vaping started with E-cigarettes as a replacement for
cigarettes,” said owner Ryan Miniutti. “It evolved into a quit smoking aid.”

Miniutti was an avid smoker and hearing that this new
trend could help him quit, he took the leap and started vaping. Through the
various flavored juices, he was able to get the right amount of nicotine to
calm his cravings. The juices have different levels of nicotine and some have
none at all. He has been smoke free for five years.

The most common tool is the E-cigarettes. Hardcore vapors
prefer the box mods that have unique styles. These are battery operated and
more powerful than the pens. There are others that are tanks or drip modules.
Some are combinations with rebuildable deck atomizers (RDA) or rebuildable tank
atomizers (RTA). The juices which come in various sized bottles are a liquid
that can be put directly into the water chamber or on part of the box mod
giving the flavor to the vapor that is sucked in to the lungs.

Mainely Vapes has 85 flavors for sale and approximately
100 in their tasting bar. Some of the juices have no nicotine and the highest
is 12 mg of nicotine in an entire bottle of juice. This is compared to 18 to 22
mg of nicotine in one cigarette, Miniutti said. The idea is to be able to
decrease nicotine intake until you are not dependent at all. There are
thousands of ingredients in cigarettes to only four or five in vape. There is
nothing artificial. Mainely Vapes carries a line of certified organic liquid. They
also carry CBD oils.

Juices or E-liquid as it is also called can be purchased
online, but Miniutti said that “You don’t know what you’re getting.” Even if it
is a reputable site, there is the wait time of having something shipped. At
Mainely Vapes, it’s cash and carry. They stock a variety of juices from the top
of the line to a nice general mixture with names and flavors like Ki-berry
Yogurt, Morning Wood (cereal flavor), coconut conniption, wicked watermelon and
more. They also have one that tastes like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich
and one that’s like a rocket pop from the ice cream truck with one flavor on
the inhale and two on the exhale. They are constantly getting new flavors.Mixing them yourself can be dangerous
especially when adding nicotine. “One drop in pure form can give you a heart
attack,” said Miniutti.

With equipment, buying online is not only time consuming,
it can also be dangerous, Miniutti added. “You’re not sure what you get. It can
blow your hand off.” Mechanical mods are the dangerous ones that look great and
can be cheap, but are for advanced vapers only.

Mainely Vapes carries only certified and accredited
equipment. With new federal regulations, vape shops and the product makers are
scrambling to make sure they meet the new laws. People who want to buy
equipment must be 18 years or older or with a parent. In Portland they must be
21 years old. Miniutti said he cards everyone who looks under 27.

Michelle Sass, Miniutti’s fiancé, said she loves smoking
and didn’t want to quit. Now through Mainely Vapes, she has not had a cigarette
in two months. According to Miniutti, more than 6.5 million people in America
have quit smoking thanks to vaping.

Vaping is now huge on the social scene in colleges and
out on the town. There are competitions on who blows the best clouds.

Many of these types of people have zero nicotine and have
never smoked in their life, but do it because of the flavors and it’s fun to
do, Miniutti said.

Every vape shop is a little different. With Mainely Vapes
it is the customer service that makes them stand out. They treat each customer
as an individual and they will educate customers on the equipment they have.
Other vape shops are no longer helping customers get started with vaping,
instead, they sell them the supplies and it’s up to the customer to figure it
out. Liability is the reason they no longer are willing to help.

“I feel it’s more of a liability not to,” Miniutti said.

The store is set up with a vaping lounge for those who
want to socialize.

“Don’t be afraid to try it,” Miniutti said. “It took
vaping to get me off cigarettes. It wasn’t willpower. It was not going to
happen without something like this.”

Having a dog groomed doesn’t have to be stress for the
owner or for the dog. At Lavish Dog Day Spa dogs are treated with love and
respect as they are groomed one-on-one from start to finish. Lavish owner and
stylist Caitlyn Brundage has worked in the industry for nine years and has seen
what some grooming styles can do to the stress level of dogs. She opened Lavish
to be an alternative to large corporate groomers. At Lavish each groomer sees only
one dog at a time and grooms them from start to finish. She does not crate dry
them and spends quality time with each dog.

Recently Brundage brought on a second stylist Briana
Ring, who works three or four times a week.

“I’ve had pets my entire life. It’s great to hang out
with people’s dogs,” said Ring.

“I like dogs being
able to bop around. It’s relaxing and comfortable,” said Brundage. Since
opening last year, Brundage said she has gotten a lot of positive feedback. “A
lot of people say their dogs are normally not good for groomers, but now they
are.” She especially sees a difference in the dogs that followed her from her
last grooming job due to spa-like environment she provides. Atmosphere makes
all the difference.

Grooming can take anywhere from between 1 ½ hours for a
small or medium dog to up to three hours for a Newfie or other large breeds.

“We want to make it as easy for the owner as possible,”
she said. They keep their clients informed with an active Facebook page and
post pictures of “the cuteness” as often as possible.

The basic package for grooming includes a premium shampoo
and conditioner for the coat. Each dog that is “extra furry” gets a shed-less
bath to reduce the amount of hair left around the house. The groomer brushes
the dog’s teeth and does a blueberry facial scrub. They also grind their nails
and clean their ears. One of the best treatments is the mud bath which helps
restore the coat, detoxify, nourish, protect, decrease smell and overall rejuvenates
the dog. It also works on hot spots and dry skin. Prices for the mud bath vary
depending on the coat and size of the dog but range between $10 and $25 on top
of the groom.

One of the unique services is pet safe dye. The non-toxic
dye shows off the human and dog personalities. This type of creative grooming
is safe for the dogs. “Some enjoy it. They love the attention,” said Brundage. “I
try to familiarize myself and excel in all areas of dog grooming,” she added.

The prices vary depending on the breed, coat and
temperament. Lavish does not groom cats.

New features this year are a chip card reader or pay with
phone options. They are also doing online booking, which gives dog owners the
option to check their schedules and book 24 hours a day, when it is convenient
for them. Through the booking site, which is linked to the salon website,
clients can get an idea of the cost of the services they are signing up for.

Lavish is looking forward to having a professional
photographer take pictures of the dogs one Saturday each month and grooming
appointments will book up quickly.

The salon hours are by appointment, but they try to be as
flexible as they can. Regular hours are generally Tuesday through Saturday from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Evenings are available by request. Visit them at www.lavishdogdayspa.com and click on
the book now button. Choose the closest breed to what the dog is. Brundage will
take phone appointments for multiple dogs or those uncomfortable with online
booking at 207-572-4084. She returns phone calls as soon as she is in the
salon.

Lavish Dog Day
Spa is celebrating their first year anniversary in just a couple weeks. If you
haven’t had your dog groomed there you don’t know what you are missing. It’s an
experience your dog will be begging for. Make an appointment for fall grooming
now, as their schedule fills up fast. They are located at 1004 River Road in
Windham. Don’t forget to like them on Facebook to keep up with their work and
maybe even see pictures of your dog!

Friday, August 12, 2016

When Jamie Beaulieu walks into work each day, he is
grateful for his life, his family and his business
and he has made giving back a
priority to his customers at Performance Auto Worx.

“It’s the start of a new life for us. I decided to give
back with free inspections and rates that are so cheap,” Beaulieu said.

After an accident that broke his back, Beaulieu has
fought his way to back to doing mechanic work. He wants to do more than just
fix cars however. He is looking at sponsoring baseball and soccer teams and
being a contributing member of the community.

“We will explain (the work) to you. We don’t just look at
you like dollars and cents,” he said of his customers. When someone brings
their car to Performance Auto Worx, Jamie or his mechanic, work on the car and
bill based on the computer time it should take to complete a project plus the
low hourly wage that beats most if not all the competitors at $45 an hour.

“We’re staying busy, especially with a lot of garages
closing in Portland,” said Beaulieu. The shop opened in April and Jamie has
been slowing seeing an uptick in his business.

“It’s a passion. It’s a new challenge every day,” he said
of the work. He gets to know his customers and is willing to work with them to
make sure they are driving safe, reliable cars.

“When you almost lose your life, you look at things
differently. I want you to feel comfortable with me that I’m not going to rip
you off. We care about everybody. I’m glad to be here and have a purpose in
life,” he added.

Performance Auto Worx does all types of mechanic work
including performance work for fuel economy and increased performance,
transmissions, $20 oil changes, body work and everything in between. They might
not do all the work themselves opting to sub contract some of the work that
needs to be done and still only charging the Performance Auto Worx hourly rate.
Their specialty is suspensions, rust repair and ultimately, customer service.

Jamie even offers to take photos of before and after work
if preferred, to ensure you know the job is being done right and as promised. Too
often garages say they do something and results down the road prove they
didn’t. He wants his customers to have faith in him that he will always do
exactly what he says and what you are paying for.

Beaulieu is working on purchasing a Mandrel bender for
doing custom exhaust systems, which in the long run will save the customers
money. “They will last two times longer and will be two times as cheap,” he
said.

He is hoping to expand the business in the near future,
bring on more mechanics and increase the work load. He has 25 years of mechanic
experience and considers himself a journeyman. He expects that every car that
leaves his shop will be in great working condition. He refuses to fix something
“just for now,” he said.

After his accident, Beaulieu’s friend became paralyzed.
The friend’s greatest wish was to race in his race car again. The problem was
that the race car was out of state and not drivable. Beaulieu picked up the car
and towed it back to Maine, then fixed it. “I fulfilled my best friend’s dream
of driving 100 mph around the track,” he said seriously. “Now if I can make an
honest living and put a smile on people’s face. That’s what I want.”

Performance Auto Worx is located on Route 302 on the
Windham/Westbrook line at 12 Roosevelt Trail.

“Anybody that wants quality work at an honest, reasonable
price, Performance Auto Worx is for you,” Beaulieu said.

Performance Auto Worx is open Monday through Friday from
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays by appointment. They can accommodate night
and weekend appointments too if that is the only way you can fit the work into
your schedule. He understands what it is like to have a family and only have
one vehicle. Being a local Windham guy makes scheduling for off times easier
than with most garages. The $20 oil changes are mostly scheduled on Fridays. To
schedule an appointment call 892-7600

Friday, August 5, 2016

A certified art educator and a licensed clinical
professional counselor with a full time practice in the
area, Jesse Romanoff
Burton opened Clay Run Studio Arts to form a community collaboration for
artists all around the lakes region. The foundation of the studio is choose and
paint pottery. The bisque pottery is selected, painted with the special paints
and then is fired in a kiln. Within two weeks, artists return to see their beautiful
art work.

“I’d like it to be very cooperative and community based
to make art accessible,” said Burton. She plans to gear the business toward a
non-profit business model as soon as she can.

“It’s art for art sake,” she added.

The bisque painting is the most obtainable art and is
available whenever the studio is open. The price on the piece is the entire
cost for painting, firing and taking the project home. Artists are welcome to
come in anytime the shop is open, no reservations are required. In addition to
the bisque, there is a growing variety of other projects.

Clay Run is now offering naked fish painting, where
artists put their own touch on different sizes of cut barn board. There are
many designs to copy or create your own. The fish and a few other painting
projects can be taken the same day. Mosaic picture frames and mirrors can be completed
in one class.

One of the special touches from Clay Run is the option to
have the pottery mailed home for those artists visiting from away. Since the kiln
is only fired when it is full, it could take up to two weeks for a project to
be completed. Burton creates the availability for vacationers to experience
this form of art.

She would like to see art teachers and those working
toward teaching degrees teach classes at the studio. Burton is open to
collaboration with local artisans and also offers individual art lessons.

The space is not only a studio, it is a place for local
artisans to display their work. Local artists showing their work now are painter
Bonnie Spiegle, sculptor and painter Nevison Daley and artisan jewelry on
display by VRDesigns and Waters Edge Studio by Ivy Jordan.

“This studio is for people who love making and learning
through visual art,” Burton said.

Twice a month, the second and last Friday of the month, the
teens and tweens take over the gallery to paint pottery and socialize.

There are plans to have a night for exchange students
“What better place than for people from all over the world to come create art,”
Burton said. There will be a ladies night once a month, but the dates haven’t
been set yet.

She also teaches a class for students with intellectual
disabilities. The current class focuses on the master painters. With all the
classes Burton meets the students where they are at in their artistic
abilities.

“It’s all about making the art accessible,” she said.
“There’s an artist is everybody.”

And, if there’s not enough time to create a personalized
piece, original pieces are available to purchase.

On Saturdays there are walk-in art classes from 2 p.m. to
4 p.m. with a variety of mediums. Most projects take about an hour and a half
to complete.

Burton has a fire arts degree and a master’s degree in
clinical mental health counseling. Burton grew up in Portland, but has lived in
this area for 24 years and knows what the community needs for artistic
expression.

Future plans involve wet clay throwing and jewelry making
classes. “It’s a call to artists and artisans, for teachers and those who want
to be a teacher,” to come show the community different art forms and
techniques, Burton said. “This is for people who want to learn different types
of art.”

Private parties are encouraged. She asks that you book in
advance to reserve space for a birthday party, bachelorette party, family
reunion or any special occasion. Burton will also travel for large groups to
their location. Need 100 plates for a family gathering? She can bring them,
fire them and deliver the finished products.

The studio is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
afternoons and evening. Stop in to learn more and to pick up a unique gift for
someone special. For more updates on classes and schedules, visit Clay Run
Studio Arts on Facebook or text 207-693-8916 for more information.